A weekly recounting of the weekend adventures of Tom Kotynski, retired Great Falls Tribune Associate Editor, who prowls Montana's mountains and communities' happenings. All photos and writing are copyright Tom Kotynski.

About Me

Monday, July 11, 2011

Big Baldy: Pioneer Ridge route

Lake Rhoda from top of Big Baldy

Elevation marker and climber register at the top

I remember years ago that Trails 733-734 had a sign on U.S. 89 near Monarch in the Little Belt Mountains indicating that it was 10 miles to the top of Mount Baldy (elevation: 9,177 feet).
Every time I would drive by the sign I'd think, why would I want to climb the mountain that way when the easiest way to climb it is to drive to its base and scramble about 1,000 feet to the top?
My thinking changed on that and I became obsessed with the idea of climbing it that way from its beginning point near the Belt Creek Ranger Station.

A Bitterroot, Montana's state flower, I found late in the day.

On Sunday I gave it a go and did the 4,200 feet in elevation gain and walked the 20-miles round trip as much as a test of myself as an exploration of the ridge.
I was very pleased with what I found: a pleasant ridge walk mostly in the trees with an occasional opening in lush green elk meadows revealing the Long-Neihart Baldy ridgeline to the south, Belt Park country to the west and Barker and beyond to the north. There are numerous diggings from old mines.
Yes, the area gets its share of motorcycle and four-wheel ORV use, but for the most part, the Forest Service has done a pretty good job regulating the off-road use and rehabbing past damage while restricting the uppermost section of this climb to hikers.
Because of the old mining and motorcycle roads the trail can be tricky at time and I suggest a map and advance familiarity before trying this on a day trip like I did.
I had a picture perfect day for the hike and the area still benefits from all the spring rains that has left the area an emerald green.
It appeared as though an ORV had tried to bull its way up the Trail 733 section, but got stopped by the large amounts of snow at 8,000 feet and above and had turned around.
At the 733-734 junction there were 10 feet snow drifts that I managed by walking across the top.

Pink Douglasia alpine wildflowers carpeted Big Baldy's flanks.

I traveled in this on-again, off-again snow for more than two miles before the geology became alpine and I could walk on rock and alpine grasses to the top.
The views from Old Baldy on a clear day are always satisfying. I could see as far south as the Gallatin, Bridger and Crazy mountain ranges and as far north as the Bear's Paw mountains, Square Butte (at Geraldine), and even the Little Rockies. To the west I could see as far as the Rocky Mountain Front, and Edith and Baldy peaks in the Big Belts.
Below me, alpine Lake Rhoda was still half-covered in snow and ice and the ridgelines were streaked with the white stuff.
The Baldy summit cap was carpeted with the pink Douglasia miniature flowers.
I was the second person this season to sign the register. The first climber did it two weeks before me on June 26.
It took me 5 hours and 35 minutes to get to the top and 4 hours and 50 minutes down. I'm sure I could have done it a lot faster if I hadn't had to deal with as much snow and route-finding.
It was a great solo day!

New 2015 Front Book edition now available

2006 Front book updates and corrections

On Feb. 24, 2008 I posted updates and corrections for the 2006 edition of my book, "Discover the Rocky Mountain Front." This has been corrected in the second, 2015 edition, released June 10, 2015. In the First Edition, these are important for a number of reasons. First, there's an significant correction to the Muddy Creek Falls hike. Second, there's an update on trails affected by the 2007 fires season. Finally, there is a land ownership change in the Falls Creek Roadless Area, effectively closing the area from the Dearborn River.To find these updates you can go to the archive and look for February 2008, or search for "Front book updates."I will also be glad to e-mail these to anyone who asks. Contact me at: tomkotynski@msn.com and put "front updates" in the title line.Tom KotynskiFebruary 2008